A Minneapolis nurse anesthetist, Drew Matthews,CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist),is being recognized for more than 25 years of volunteer work with the International Health Service to Honduras, where he is director of anesthesia.

A Minneapolis nurse anesthetist, Drew Matthews, CRNA, has been selected as this year's recipient of the Outstanding Civic and Humanitarian Service Award presented by the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists (MANA).

Matthews is being recognized for more than 25 years of volunteer work with the International Health Service to Honduras, according to MANA board member Monique Bowersox, CRNA, MNA. Bowersox is chair of the association's Public Relations Committee, which manages the awards process.

In addition to working full time as a nurse anesthetist at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Matthews is also director of anesthesia for the International Health Service to Honduras.

In nominating Matthews for the award, a fellow CRNA stated, "He has dedicated his time...procuring equipment and supplies for the poorest areas of Honduras and often at his own expense. I have known hundreds of volunteers in my life, but no one more caring and devoted than Drew."

Bowersox noted that Matthews' volunteer work in Honduras was featured on KARE 11 News in July. (See http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=927643.)

MANA's Outstanding Civic and Humanitarian Service Award was formally announced at its annual meeting on Oct. 7.

CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) are advanced practice nurses who administer approximately 32 million anesthetics in the United States each year. CRNAs practice with a great deal of autonomy in every setting in which anesthesia is available including, but not limited to hospital operating and delivery rooms; ambulatory surgical centers; the offices of dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists, and plastic surgeons; pain management centers; and within the U.S. Military, Public Health Services, and Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.

CRNAs are the main hands-on provider of anesthesia care in both military and civilian settings. They are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America, and the sole anesthesia providers in nearly 100 percent of all rural hospitals.

MANA, with more than 1,500 members, represents the nurse anesthesia profession in Minnesota. More information on nurse anesthesia can be found on its website www.mnana.org or on the website of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists at www.aana.com.

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About Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists

MANA, with more than 1,500 members, represents the nurse anesthesia profession in Minnesota. More information on nurse anesthesia can be found on its website www.mnana.org or on the website of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists at www.aana.com.